Study in Australia

Explore Australia

So, you’re thinking about studying in Australia? Great choice! One of the world’s most popular destinations for international students, with 269,752 enrolled in 2014-2015, Australia is renowned worldwide not only for its stunning beaches and exotic creatures but also for its outstanding higher education system.

Home to the Group of Eight (the Antipodean Ivy League), seven of which make it into the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings for 2015-2016, Australia is keen to promote internationalisation in all areas of its society. The combination of high calibre universities, welcoming locals and the enviable Australian way of life make this country a unique, desirable destination for students from all corners of the globe.

To help you make an informed decision about which part of Australia would suit you best, we’ve provided details on each of its regions below. Read on to begin your investigation!

New South Wales

Covering an enormous tract of land in south-eastern Australia, New South Wales (NSW) is, in many ways, the birthplace of the nation. This is where you’ll find Australia’s largest city, Sydney, and the Australian Capital Territory lies within its borders. This is also Australia’s most populous state by far. With that in mind, many of the oldest and most famous universities in Australia are found here in NSW.

New South Wales boasts the largest research sector in Australia, a country that already has a strong reputation for quality of research in the Asia-Pacific region. As you can imagine, this makes NSW a top choice for postgraduate students from across the entire region and beyond.

Sydney is, by far, the single most popular academic destination in this Australian state, with several universities are located in and around the metropolitan area. Finance and information technology are strong industries here, with excellent work-study and networking opportunities available.

Heading out of Sydney, national parks and natural attractions abound. The rainforest of Washpool National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stand atop the Great Dividing Range. Other attractions include the koalas of Port Stephens, the vineyards of Lower Hunter Valley and the Outback outpost of Lightning Ridge. There’s enough to see and do in NSW to fill a lifetime, let alone the time it takes to earn a degree.

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The Australian state of Victoria is situated on the south-east sector of the continent. This is a relatively small state by Australian standards – tucked between New South Wales and South Australia. However, just shy of 6 million people live here, making this the most densely populated state in Australia.

Victoria offers a wide range of environments to explore. This range from serene beaches – broken here and there by rugged, rocky stretches – to forested mountains and semi-arid plains. The climate is temperate and comfortable throughout the year, and outdoor sports and activities are popular with locals and students.

Victoria has carved out a reputation as an intellectual stronghold of culture and the arts, and this fosters a dynamic selection of universities. Most of the universities in the state are based out of its leading city, Melbourne. Many of the universities found here operate multiple campuses, which means students can choose to be based in the cosmopolitan centre of it all, or they can head to quieter environs and enjoy the same calibre of education from a satellite campus.

Studying anywhere in Australia has strong advantages, and Victoria is no exception. Local academics are well-networked with business sectors in Melbourne and, as such, the curriculum they develop reflects current theory and practices.

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South Australia does not occupy the absolute southernmost area of Australia. On the mainland, that distinction falls to Victoria, while the island of Tasmania lies farther south still. Rather, South Australia occupies the south central coast of Australia and reaches inland through the Outback and toward the Red Centre.

South Australia is famous for its vineyards, most of which are located around the Barossa Valley. The wine industry here is booming, and the art and science of viticulture is a popular theme of study for international students in the state. Southern Australia also supports a thriving automotive manufacturing sector with inroads into the local university scene.

Generally speaking, the universities of Southern Australia are younger than those found around Sydney or Melbourne. They boast brand-new infrastructure and typically embrace the latest-breaking trends in higher education and vocational study. The Australian government has liaised closely with local universities to develop a well-regulated higher education system. As a result, international students enjoy excellent services while studying here.

The most important city in South Australia is Adelaide, and this is where many of the state’s universities are found. Adelaide is a regionally important city, with a full selection of cosmopolitan offerings. However, it is on the whole much more laid back than Australia’s larger cities on the east coast.

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Western Australia is the continent’s largest state, covering more than 2.6 million km². Perth is the capital of the state, and it’s quickly developing a reputation as one of Australia’s most liveable cities. It features big-city atmosphere, an outstanding outdoor scene and an overall laid-back appeal that makes studying here just that much more enjoyable.

The local economy hinges on mining, tourism and agriculture. Western Australia is so prolific on this front, to the extent that nearly half of all Australian exports originate here. Students planning to work in these industries, the skills and professional networks that they develop in Western Australia become valuable assets to economies around the world.

Most of the universities in Western Australia are located around the south-west corner of the state. This climate is superb here – reminiscent of the Mediterranean – and as a result most of the population reside in this quadrant of the state. Four major universities operate in Western Australia, along with other higher-learning institutions, the majority of which are located within a relatively tight radius of Perth.

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Off the southern coast of Victoria lies Australia’s island state – Tasmania. This is the country’s southern-most state, and it offers some of the most dazzling scenery you’ll encounter while studying in Australia. In fact, more than 20 per cent of Tasmania is protected by UNESCO World Heritage status.

Tasmania operates a single university – the state-administered University of Tasmania – which operates three different campuses around the island. UTAS enjoys high marks from QS rankings, including five stars for both internationalisation and teaching. Likewise, the Academic Ranking of World Universities has listed this institute among the top 10 research universities in Australia.

Studying in Tasmania offers international students unique insight into Australia’s culture and lifestyle. This island state has a strong sense of individual identity, and students learn as much about the local history as they do about that of Australia as a whole.

Tasmania offers a unique list of selling points for students in specific academic fields. Among these, the fact that it is located so far south in the Southern Hemisphere makes it an ideal place from which to explore marine ecosystems and the continent of Antarctica.

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At the north-east corner of Australia, Queensland is famous for its stunning landscape and beautiful coastline. This is an enormous state – the second-largest in the country – and it boasts many of the continent’s most famous attractions. With more than 300 days of sunshine in the average year, it is difficult to imagine a more satisfying place for international students to be based.

Headlining the must-see list of Queensland is the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef. Counted among the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, this enormous reef is the only living thing on Earth that can even be seen from space. Whether diving, snorkelling or simply admiring from a distance, visiting the Great Barrier Reef is a highlight of any student experience in Queensland.

Even so, there is much more to see and do in this state. Heading inland, portions of the Outback are accessible in Queensland. The Great Green Way, an area of unparalleled natural beauty, stretches between the charming city of Townsville and Cairns. White-water rafting, bungee jumping, bushwalking and horseback riding are all possible in Queensland.

Universities are found across the state, but the greatest concentration lies in and around Brisbane. With its breezy café culture, reputation for live music and booming arts scene, Brisbane is quickly becoming one of the headlining cosmopolitan attractions of Australia.